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Global Guide to Tropical Cyclone Forecasting:
CHAPTER 6: OPERATIONAL STRATEGY

6.5 FORECAST DISSEMINATION

Once the warning is ready to send, rapid dissemination is essential. The method of delivery of warnings is very much a function of the communications infrastructure of individual countries. Operationally, a forecaster's job does not end when the warning is issued. Forecasters need to be involved in aspects of the dissemination process however, for the sake of the efficiency of the overall TCWC, the general rule should be that the less human intervention in the sending process the better. Precious time can elapse by hand written warnings being prepared for transmission by communications staff. Workstation technology can eliminate this. Warnings prepared on a workstation can be interfaced with the office's communications system for direct transmission.

Not all warnings however can be disseminated from a TCWC by means of a workstation/communications interface. The following sections describe the most efficient ways of using each of the major communications system to advantage.

6.5.1 Telephone

All TCWCs should be encouraged to establish a recorded message service. It is much more efficient to tape a warning once than to have to repeat that warning many times to different individuals. The Royal Observatory in Hong Kong tapes its warnings in both English and Chinese on two separate lines for general inquiry calls. For the future, the development of synthetic voice systems will increase the efficiency of transferring warning information directly to a recorded telephone message with minimal human intervention.

6.5.2 Radio

Broadcasting authorities should be encouraged to regularly transmit warnings as scheduled broadcasts so that people know where to be able to obtain this information. In Australia, for example, communities in cyclone-prone areas know that warnings are broadcast at set times (in most cases, 15 min past the warning hour) by regional radio stations. The broadcast is preceded by a distinctive alerting sound which draws attention very effectively that the latest cyclone information is about to be transmitted.

Radio broadcast of cyclone warnings remain one of the most widespread and effective means of communicating information because it has a relatively rapid response time, and it is capable of reaching remote areas. It is inexpensive to buy some sort of radio receiver, and battery powered radios allow people to keep informed even if their normal power supply has failed.

6.5.3 Television

The IWTC-II survey indicated that television is being used to transmit warning information in more than 70% of countries. The visual impact of television makes it a very effective means of communicating information and one that should be fully exploited by TCWCs whenever possible. There are four methods of getting information across by television:

1. The direct reporting of a cyclone event in news bulletins,
2. A strip message of the latest warning details displayed across bottom of the screen,
3. Graphical representation of the latest warning details (including the use of radar or satellite images of the tropical cyclone),
4. Media interviews with the forecaster.

Contents Chapter 6.6